Safest driving cities in the U.S.

September 2, 2015

By Michelle Megna

Drive carefully road sign Kansas City, Kansas bumped out three-year incumbent Fort Collins, Colorado to become the city with the safest drivers, according to a new insurance claims report.

The annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report," now in its 11th year, is based on an analysis of accident claims to determine how often crashes occurred in the 200 largest U.S. metro areas.

Brownsville, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, also top the list of cities that can brag about having the safest drivers. The least safe cities include Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

New this year, the report provides information about what insures say is a notable factor in collisions – braking habits -- in approximately 100 cities nationally. Allstate pulled data from its Drivewise offering, which monitors driving habits to determine if drivers qualify for a safe-driving discount, to determine braking trends. A hard braking event is defined as slowing down 8 miles per hour or more over a one-second time interval.

Allstate found a correlation between hard braking and collision frequency. Cities with higher collision frequency also recorded more hard braking events. Nationally, on average, a driver will experience 16 hard braking events for every 1,000 miles driven, according to Allstate.

Factors that affect average car insurance rates

Many factors go into setting your car insurance rate, including your driving record, the type of car you drive and the amount and severity of claims filed within in your ZIP code. Here is how 200 cities rank for safe drivers. Use our average car insurance rates tool to find premiums for your ZIP code:

2015 Safest Driving City Ranking	City	Avg. Years Between Accidents	Relative Accident Likelihood (Compared To Nat’l Avg.)	2014 Safest Driving City Ranking	Change From 2014 To 2015	2015 Drivewise Braking Events per 1,000 Miles
1	Kansas City, KA	13.3	-24.8%	4	+3	N/A
2	Brownsville, TX	13.3	-24.6%	2	0	N/A
3	Boise, ID	13.1	-23.5%	3	0	14.0
4	Fort Collins, CO	12.7	-21.1%	1	-3	16.6
5	Cape Coral, FL	12.7	-21.0%	15	+10	16.3
6	Madison, WI	12.2	-18.2%	9	+3	8.1
7	Cedar Rapids, IA	11.8	-15.1%	11	+4	N/A
8	Laredo, TX	11.7	-14.7%	8	0	N/A
9	Huntsville, AL	11.7	-14.7%	5	-4	N/A
10	Cary, NC	11.6	-13.8%	24	+14	N/A
11	Wichita, KS	11.5	-13.0%	16	+5	9.4
12	Reno, NV	11.5	-12.7%	17	+5	15.7
13	Montgomery, AL	11.4	-12.4%	6	-7	N/A
14	Olathe, KS	11.4	-12.3%	10	-4	13.1
15	Springfield, MO	11.4	-12.3%	38	+23	14.6
16	Colorado Springs, CO	11.4	-12.1%	14	-2	17.1
17	Kansas City, MO	11.3	-11.8%	12	-5	15.3
18	Port St. Lucie, FL	11.3	-11.8%	26	+8	13.8
19	Des Moines, IA	11.3	-11.7%	13	-6	6.8
20	Birmingham, AL	11.2	-10.7%	32	+12	N/A
21	Lincoln, NE	11.0	-9.1%	18	-3	N/A
22	Fort Wayne, IN	11.0	-8.9%	35	+13	13.5
23	Amarillo, TX	10.9	-8.1%	34	+11	N/A
24	Lakewood, CO	10.9	-8.0%	19	-5	20.5
25	Mobile, AL	10.6	-6.0%	28	+3	N/A
26	Omaha, NE	10.6	-6.0%	21	-5	11.9
27	Mesa, AZ	10.6	-5.9%	22	-5	20.1
28	Chandler, AZ	10.6	-5.7%	31	+3	22.8
29	Knoxville, TN	10.6	-5.6%	27	-2	17.2
30	Peoria, AZ	10.6	-5.4%	47	+17	17.2
31	Lexington, KY	10.6	-5.2%	46	+15	15.5
32	Overland Park, KS	10.5	-4.9%	29	-3	11.3
33	Gilbert, AZ	10.5	-4.4%	20	-13	18.2
34	Dayton, OH	10.3	-2.6%	49	+15	16.2
35	Eugene, OR	10.3	-2.5%	23	-12	13.4
36	McAllen, TX	10.2	-2.1%	51	+15	N/A
37	Tucson, AZ	10.2	-2.1%	43	+6	19.3
38	Winston-Salem, NC	10.2	-1.8%	41	+3	N/A
39	Scottsdale, AZ	10.1	-1.3%	45	+6	21.3
40	Tallahassee, FL	10.1	-0.5%	44	+4	17.2
41	Hampton, VA	10.1	-0.5%	42	+1	12.6
42	Sioux Falls, SD	10.0	+0.3%	36	-9	N/A
43	Jacksonville, FL	10.0	+0.3%	54	+11	15.4
44	Lancaster, CA	10.0	+0.3%	50	+6	N/A
45	Milwaukee, WI	9.9	+0.6%	37	-8	10.3
46	Rockford, IL	9.9	+0.9%	25	-21	18.0
47	Tempe, AZ	9.9	+1.2%	33	-14	19.4
48	Toledo, OH	9.9	+1.4%	66	+18	16.9
49	Newport News, VA	9.8	+2.0%	48	-1	14.3
50	El Paso, TX	9.8	+2.1%	56	+6	N/A
51	Chattanooga, TN	9.8	+2.1%	30	-21	14.2
52	St. Petersburg, FL	9.8	+2.3%	58	+6	15.3
53	Lubbock, TX	9.8	+2.5%	40	-13	N/A
54	Akron, OH	9.6	+4.1%	74	+20	14.1
55	Joliet, IL	9.6	+4.2%	52	-3	19.2
56	Chesapeake, VA	9.6	+4.2%	64	+8	11.1
57	Henderson, NV	9.6	+4.7%	57	0	17.6
58	Corpus Christi, TX	9.5	+4.8%	59	+1	N/A
59	Salinas, CA	9.5	+5.6%	53	-6	N/A
60	Indianapolis, IN	9.4	+6.5%	76	+16	14.9
61	Glendale, AZ	9.4	+6.8%	65	+4	20.9
62	Tulsa, OK	9.3	+7.3%	96	+34	14.2
63	Phoenix, AZ	9.3	+7.4%	79	+16	20.6
64	Spokane, WA	9.3	+7.5%	71	+7	12.9
65	Aurora, IL	9.2	+8.5%	68	+3	20.3
66	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	9.2	+8.6%	61	-5	N/A
67	Clarksville, TN	9.2	+8.7%	110	+43	14.5
68	Palmdale, CA	9.2	+8.8%	70	+2	N/A
69	Louisville, KY	9.2	+8.9%	60	-9	14.5
70	Cleveland, OH	9.2	+9.0%	98	+28	14.7
71	Thousand Oaks, CA	9.1	+9.3%	82	+11	N/A
72	Greensboro, NC	9.1	+9.5%	55	-17	N/A
73	Fort Lauderdale, FL	9.1	+9.7%	125	+52	18.8
74	Salt Lake City, UT	9.1	+10.0%	67	-7	15.2
75	Orlando, FL	9.1	+10.1%	128	+53	18.8
76	Columbus, GA	9.1	+10.3%	73	-3	N/A
77	Raleigh, NC	9.1	+10.5%	101	+24	N/A
78	Elk Grove, CA	9.0	+10.5%	83	+5	N/A
79	Ontario, CA	9.0	+10.8%	91	+12	N/A
80	Oxnard, CA	9.0	+10.8%	100	+20	N/A
81	Minneapolis, MN	9.0	+11.0%	90	+9	12.4
82	Augusta, GA	9.0	+11.0%	92	+10	N/A
83	Nashville, TN	9.0	+11.3%	63	-20	16.1
84	Denver, CO	9.0	+11.5%	88	+4	17.3
85	St. Louis, MO	9.0	+11.5%	105	+20	15.0
86	Bakersfield , CA	9.0	+11.7%	81	-5	N/A
87	Shreveport, LA	8.9	+11.8%	84	-3	13.1
88	Richmond, VA	8.9	+12.0%	97	+9	14.4
89	Oklahoma City, OK	8.9	+12.1%	87	-2	13.4
90	Fayetteville, NC	8.9	+12.2%	75	-15	N/A
91	Durham, NC	8.9	+12.2%	108	+17	N/A
92	Moreno Valley, CA	8.9	+12.9%	78	-14	N/A
93	Virginia Beach, VA	8.8	+13.1%	111	+18	13.1
94	Vancouver, WA	8.8	+14.3%	94	0	11.9
95	West Valley, UT	8.7	+14.3%	80	-15	17.3
96	Memphis, TN	8.7	+14.4%	93	-3	19.2
97	Fontana, CA	8.7	+14.4%	86	-11	N/A
98	Fresno, CA	8.7	+14.5%	62	-36	N/A
99	Pasadena, TX	8.7	+14.7%	95	-4	N/A
100	Naperville, IL	8.7	+15.1%	107	+7	19.8
101	Pamona, CA	8.7	+15.2%	118	+17	N/A
102	San Bernardino, CA	8.7	+15.2%	69	-33	N/A
103	Huntington Beach, CA	8.7	+15.3%	99	-4	N/A
104	Santa Rosa, CA	8.7	+15.3%	119	+15	N/A
105	Escondido, CA	8.6	+15.7%	113	+8	N/A
106	Waco, TX	8.6	+15.7%	77	-29	N/A
107	Modesto, CA	8.6	+15.7%	72	-35	N/A
108	Santa Clarita, CA	8.6	+15.9%	85	-23	N/A
109	Albuquerque, NM	8.6	+16.1%	126	+17	13.4
110	Detroit, MI	8.6	+16.6%	104	-6	21.7
111	Pembroke Pines, FL	8.6	+16.9%	132	+21	23.3
112	Chula Vista, CA	8.5	+17.0%	89	-23	N/A
113	Las Vegas, NV	8.5	+17.0%	123	+10	18.3
114	Jackson, MS	8.5	+17.3%	106	-8	12.7
115	Sacramento, CA	8.5	+18.0%	114	-1	N/A
116	Warren, MI	8.5	+18.0%	124	+8	22.1
117	Stockton, CA	8.5	+18.1%	117	0	N/A
118	Aurora, CO	8.5	+18.3%	115	-3	19.1
119	Columbus, OH	8.4	+18.4%	135	+16	16.5
120	Salem, OR	8.4	+18.7%	102	-18	13.5
121	St. Paul, MN	8.4	+18.9%	103	-18	15.9
122	Charleston, SC	8.4	+19.0%	N/A	N/A	N/A
123	San Diego, CA	8.4	+19.2%	112	-11	N/A
124	Riverside, CA	8.4	+19.3%	120	-4	N/A
125	Hialeah, FL	8.3	+19.9%	189	+64	21.3
126	Oceanside, CA	8.3	+20.6%	109	-17	N/A
127	Anchorage, AK	8.3	+20.7%	131	+4	N/A
128	North Las Vegas, NV	8.3	+21.1%	130	+2	20.8
129	Orange, CA	8.2	+21.6%	133	+4	N/A
130	Little Rock, AR	8.2	+21.8%	122	-8	13.7
131	Tampa, FL	8.1	+23.0%	160	+29	17.2
132	Corona, CA	8.1	+23.0%	121	-11	N/A
133	Syracuse, NY	8.1	+23.3%	136	+3	15.5
134	Chicago, IL	8.0	+24.4%	139	+5	24.7
135	Killeen, TX	8.0	+24.8%	129	-6	N/A
136	Jersey City, NJ	8.0	+25.3%	152	+16	21.5
137	San Antonio, TX	7.9	+26.1%	142	+5	N/A
138	Norfolk, VA	7.9	+26.4%	143	+5	13.0
139	Santa Ana, CA	7.9	+26.6%	137	-2	N/A
140	Grand Rapids, MI	7.9	+26.6%	116	-24	14.8
141	Hollywood, FL	7.9	+26.8%	148	+7	23.2
142	Charlotte, NC	7.9	+26.8%	127	-15	N/A
143	Savannah, GA	7.9	+27.0%	149	+6	N/A
144	Miramar, FL	7.9	+27.1%	157	+13	22.7
145	Baton Rogue, LA	7.9	+27.2%	134	-11	16.5
146	Frisco, TX	7.8	+27.6%	145	-1	N/A
147	Miami, FL	7.8	+28.2%	186	+39	26.1
148	Long Beach, CA	7.8	+28.6%	141	-7	N/A
149	Columbia, SC	7.8	+28.8%	154	+5	N/A
150	Honolulu, HI	7.8	+28.9%	140	-10	N/A
151	New York, NY	7.7	+29.0%	155	+4	28.3
152	Rochester, NY	7.7	+29.1%	144	-8	17.2
153	Fort Worth, TX	7.6	+30.9%	147	-6	N/A
154	McKinney, TX	7.6	+31.5%	166	+12	N/A
155	Yonkers, NY	7.6	+32.3%	167	+12	26.8
156	Hayward, CA	7.6	+32.3%	138	-18	N/A
157	Buffalo, NY	7.5	+32.7%	178	+21	21.0
158	New Orleans, LA	7.4	+34.4%	181	+23	13.2
159	Irvine, CA	7.4	+35.0%	156	-3	N/A
160	Cincinnati, OH	7.4	+35.9%	170	+10	15.5
161	Sterling Heights, MI	7.3	+36.3%	164	+3	22.9
162	Mesquite, TX	7.3	+36.4%	168	+6	N/A
163	Plano, TX	7.3	+36.5%	150	-13	N/A
164	Tacoma, WA	7.3	+36.6%	153	-11	15.9
165	San Jose, CA	7.3	+37.0%	151	-14	N/A
166	Austin, TX	7.3	+37.1%	159	-7	N/A
167	Pasadena, CA	7.3	+37.6%	169	+2	N/A
168	Newark, NJ	7.3	+37.7%	180	+12	25.7
169	Sunnyvale, CA	7.3	+37.8%	163	-6	N/A
170	Houston, TX	7.2	+37.9%	158	-12	N/A
171	Grand Prairie, TX	7.2	+38.0%	172	+1	N/A
172	Fremont, CA	7.2	+39.0%	165	-7	N/A
173	Anaheim, CA	7.2	+39.1%	146	-27	N/A
174	Bellevue, WA	7.1	+40.7%	N/A	N/A	19.8
175	Arlington, TX	7.1	+40.9%	176	+1	N/A
176	Fullerton, CA	7.0	+42.4%	171	-5	N/A
177	Dallas, TX	7.0	+43.0%	174	-3	N/A
178	Torrance, CA	7.0	+43.5%	161	-17	N/A
179	Atlanta, GA	7.0	+43.8%	179	0	N/A
180	Paterson, NJ	6.9	+44.2%	184	+4	25.0
181	Garland, TX	6.9	+44.4%	182	+1	N/A
182	Irving, TX	6.9	+44.4%	175	-7	N/A
183	Portland, OR	6.9	+45.0%	177	-6	18.4
184	Seattle, WA	6.9	+45.9%	173	-11	14.9
185	Pittsburgh, PA	6.8	+46.2%	187	+2	18.7
186	Garden Grove, CA	6.8	+46.9%	162	-24	N/A
187	Bridgeport, CT	6.7	+49.0%	185	-2	21.2
188	Oakland, CA	6.6	+52.1%	183	-5	N/A
189	New Haven, CT	6.3	+59.9%	191	+2	22.9
190	Alexandria, VA	6.2	+60.5%	193	+3	N/A
191	Los Angeles, CA	6.1	+63.3%	188	-3	N/A
192	Philadelphia, PA	6.1	+64.4%	192	0	33.9
193	San Francisco, CA	6.1	+65.0%	190	-3	N/A
194	Glendale, CA	5.6	+79.4%	194	0	N/A
195	Providence, RI	5.3	+87.4%	196	+1	N/A
196	Springfield, MA	5.2	+93.1%	197	+1	N/A
197	Washington, DC	4.8	+106.3%	198	+1	N/A
198	Baltimore, MD	4.7	+113.9%	195	-3	20.6
199	Worcester, MA	4.5	+120.7%	200	+1	N/A
200	Boston, MA	3.9	+157.7%	199	-1	13.4
The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report® tabulates property damage collision frequency of Allstate insured drivers from 2012-2013.
The report analyzes the 200 largest cities from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places over 50,000, measured for 2013 as of July 1, 2014. In prior years, neighboring cities that shared zip codes also shared rankings. This only impacted a minimal number of cities; however, in 2014 and 2015, the report used geolocation to increase accuracy and there are no longer shared rankings. U.S. Census Bureau data was used to obtain the population density factor. For the precipitation factor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data was utilized. Allstate Drivewise® data is based on Allstate customers voluntarily enrolled in the telematics program from 2010-2014. A number of cities from the full 200 Best Drivers rankings are excluded in the Drivewise data due to the limited measurable data available, or because Drivewise was not available (California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas).
The Allstate Best Drivers Report is produced solely to boost the country’s discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the
importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel. The report is not used to determine auto insurance rates.

Accident-free and safe driver car insurance discounts

Safe driving, besides protecting you and those around you, is also cheered by insurers because fewer accidents mean fewer repair and medical claims. Crashes and moving violations will push up premiums, but a clean driving record for a certain number of years -- typically three -- should snag a discount of 10 to 25 percent.

Some car insurance companies offer an “accident-free” discount starting at 5 percent to drivers who do not have an at-fault accident for a specified period, typically three or five years, depending on the insurer. Accident-free discounts usually to the bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision and medical payments portions of your policy.